A weightlifter lifts, a marathon runner runs...

A real estate agent has a certain set of skills that are required to do their job.  These skills are learned and you're not born with them.  No one pops out as a baby and people say "hey,  look at that...a REALTOR®!"

So what makes the difference between one REALTOR® and another?  It's many things, but it comes down to skill set. 

Most agents concentrate heavily on "face time" or personality.  How do you interact with someone who may be needing a real estate agent soon.  Really, it's one of the easiest skills to practice because as an agent, you get chances everyday to talk to someone about real estate...to learn how to connect with people.

It's also a skill that we'd likely need even if we were not a REALTOR® because it's the same skill you use to talk to, empathize with, and connect with people around you.

HOWEVER, one skill that I have RARELY seen practiced at any brokerage that I have been with is one of the most important to a home seller or home buyer! 

NEGOTIATION!

No, I don't mean him.

I mean contract negotiation and how does an agent get better at negotiation.

You have to practice...just like "face time", you have to DO to get BETTER.  There is only so much you can THINK your way to being better at any skill.

A basketball player can picture the perfect game and visualize the ball going through the hoop, but without PRACTICE, (yeah, we talkin' bout PRACTICE), it's not going to improve his/her game much.

A weightlifter lifts weights to get stronger...he engages in the very action that he wishes to be better at.

A marathon runner will RUN to get better at...you guessed it, RUNNING!

A negotiator has to practice negotiation to get better at it.  

So as an agent, get with another agent and "present" a dummy offer on their "listing".  Do it for real!  Write it up and send it over to them.. Call them up and NEGOTIATE it and then reverse rolls. 

WITHOUT PRACTICE, you can not improve.